Online colleges and degrees are becoming increasingly popular, but some people still have reservations about them. A lot of concerns are a result of being uninformed of their true nature and rigor.
We will dive deeper into three of the most widely held misconceptions about online degrees.
Employers do not respect your degree
Online degree programs became a norm even before the pandemic, as almost half of traditional brick-and-mortar began offering entirely online degrees. As early as 2014, 5.8 million distance learning students took online courses, with 2.85 million of them exclusively online. Almost 73 percent of undergraduate students in public colleges and universities took online courses.
Unlike 10 to 15 years ago, older corporate executives have begun to acknowledge that an online degree is as credible as an on-campus thought degree. The shift of perception has since moved from the credibility of methodology to accreditation, reputation, and student performance.
Choosing an online college can be quite tricky. You can read more about choosing an online college here. Pay attention to accredited colleges.
Classes are not challenging and too easy
The level of difficulty of classroom subjects depends very much on the content and the professor teaching it. Online students possibly face more challenges as it is more challenging to experience non-linguistic communications like body language.
Accredited online degree programs ensure that coursework is challenging, whether taken online or offline, as modalities are of the same standard.
Just ‘Google’ away answers? Well, proctored exams make sure you know your stuff and are skillful enough to pass and progress.
You are all alone
When you decide to enroll in an online college, you would have chosen to be responsible for your academic qualification. Remember, you are not the only person enrolled in the course. There is a community of students, professors, advisors, and support team to help you out when needed.
Conveniently, your online college’s Learning Management System (LMS) would incorporate your learning tools, faculty members and profiles, and references accessible 24/7.
Being a member of forums, chatrooms, and social groups allows you to interact seamlessly. Moreover, access to professors and the technical team through phone and email will ensure your problems are resolved, just like in a regular brick-and-mortar college setting.
Additional tips
If you happen to live near the college, try out hybrid classes to try out the on-campus feel of learning. Some programs will require your physical presence for hands-on practical learning where you experience real-life situations.
It is always best practice to discuss your concerns with any online college or university before enrolling. Please make a list of them, visit the campus for a one-on-one meeting, and feel the college for yourself. While you are there, assess their reputation, completion rate, job placement, and financial standing.
With online degrees being the new normal in the public and private sectors, it remains an excellent option for consideration.
